Machine for cleaning fresh fruit and the like



Feb.- 6, 1934.

1.. E. JONES MACHINE FOR CLEANING FRESH FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1929 7/ Trffrsz:

L F1i5.5-

Patented at. s,- 1934 MACHINE FOR CLEANING FRESHI'BUI'I' AND THE LIKE Lloyd E. Jones, Santa Monica, Calif; assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,666

nussuan a 1 v 8 Claims. (01. 146-202) My invention'relatesto machines for brushing, More specifically the said embodiment compolishing or similarly treating the's'urfaces of individual articles, particularly those of delicate texture or surface, such as apples, lemons and the like.

One of the important objects of theinvention is to provide a machine for automatically brush ing or polishing fruit without injury and particularly without permitting one fruit to come in contact with another. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described for polishing irregular shaped articles such as apples; it being understood that apples in passing thru a brushing machine tend to rotate upon certain axes without presenting either the stem-end orthe blossom-end to the brushes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine well adapted for brushing or polishing irregular shaped articles, particularly apples, and in which machine the article is continually rolled from one axis to another so that all surfaces and surface cavities are periodically brought into contact with brushing surfaces.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and include the attainment of low cost, efficiency and large capacity.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will appear hereinafter.

While the invention, and the particular embodiment which I am about to describe, is adapted for handling a wide variety of individual articles, I have, without intent to limit the scope of application of my invention, illustrated by the accompanying drawing, one practical embodiment of my invention adapted particularly to polishing apples and the like. Accordingly, the ensuing description is directed more particularly to the polishing of applies but such description willen- 40 able those skilled in the art of building and using such machines, to construct and operate machines in conformity with 'my invention, forother purposes. v

In the said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of such embodiment. l

Figure 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a view in section of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a partial side elevation as viewed from line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detailed view drawn to an en.- larged scale illustrating the construction of one of the pusher elements.

on the line 3-3 machine or prises a suitably supported frame including parallel side members or walls 9, 9, and end members 10, 10 tying said walls together. Transversely of the frame a plurality of juxtaposed,

rotary brushes 11 are arranged. Each brush is on the same horizontal plane as the others; each having an axis or shaft:12 revolving in corresponding bearings'13 provided by the side walls l4. At each end of each shaft a sprocket wheel 15 is attached externally to the frame and endless chains -16 connect all sprockets so that all" brushes may be revolved simultaneously at the same peripheral speed and all in the same direction.

A plurality of longitudinally extending partitions 17 are arranged in parallel relation to oneanother above the brushes so that the side walls and said partitions and brushes coact to provide a plurality of fruit runways 18; the bottom surfaces of which are formed by the brushes. These runways extend from end to end of the machine and are open at each end.

Adjacent each end of the machine on the top surface ofthe side walls, a shaft 19 is mounted in bearings 20. Each shaft extends transversely acrm the runway adjacent the corresponding end' of the machine and each shaft is provided with a plurality of sprocket wheels 21 keyed thereto as at 22; there being on each shaft one such sprocket wheel for each intermediate memher and for each side wall. The corresponding sprockets of one shaft are aligned with the corresponding sprockets'of the other shaftand endless chains 26 run over and connect all aligned sprockets. A drive sprocket 27 on the first brush shaft is connected to a driven sprocket 28 on one of the shafts 19 so that when the first brush shaft revolves, all of the shafts and sprockets throughout the machine will be driven accordingly.

The lower parts of the chains 26 are arranged to ride upon the top surfaces of the side walls or intermediate walls, as the case may be; the weight of the chains holding them normally in contiguity therewith.

Between each two adjacent chains, and carried thereby, pusher pads 30 are arranged. These pads project from the chains at suitable angles so that-those at the-lowermost side of the chains depend into the aforesaid individual runways. These pads are preferably spaced alongthe chainsat the same spacing as thelbrushes' to provide fruit pockets 32, 32, etc., equal in length to the spacing of the brushes longitudiof one or more brushes; on the sides by the partitions or end walls as the case may be, and at front and rear by the two corresponding push- .er pads. Any suitable constructionis employed for the pads and in the present embodiment each pad is shown as comprising two wires 33, 33 and a piece of farbric 34.

The wires are opposed; one wire being carried are light and flexible so that the pads may bend.

and conform as required.

In conformity with a salient feature of m invention each side of each'intermediate member, and the inside of each side wall is lined with a coextensive fixed brush such as 38 so that each fruit runway is bounded by brushes both at the sides and bottom. The brushes in when permitted to do so.

should be of texture best suited to the materail to be brushed; soft hair brushes being recommended where delicate fruit skins are encountered. Each pusher pad is of such width as to fit reasonably close transversely of the runway; the drawing indicating a good arrangement. i

In conformity with another feature of the invention, each revolving brush is provided with a helical groove 40; the grooves of the alternate brushes running right-hand and the grooves of the intermediate brushes running left hand; thus each brush having a left hand helical groove is in juxtaposition to a brush having a right hand groove. These grooves are of. such shape and dimension as to permit of fruit, such as apples 41, partially reposing there- Considering the machine longitudinally, the first rotary 'brush and the last rotary brush are each arranged outwardly beyond the corresponding shaft so that fruit may be deposited on :the first brush, or removed from the last brush, without interference from the pusher pads and the'chains.

The operation of the machine'will now be described particularly as it applied to polishing apples:-By suitable means one brush shaft is revolved in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrows and by means of the sprockets and chains all brushes and shafts revolve;'the brushes rotating all in a direction ranging forwardly of the machine, and the pusher pads travelling thru the fruit rimways at a slower' speed preferably than that represented by the peripheral speed of the brush. Now fruit is fed either manually or by any suitable or well known means singly to the individual runways; the fruit being deposited one after another successively on the corresponding part of the first brush. Each apple as it is laid uponthe first brush rolls into the depression existing between the first and second brushes.

The diameter and spacing of the brushes is so proportioned relative to the maximum size of fruit handled that an apple tends to remain in such depression rather than being transferred by one brush to the next; In other words, as a brush.

revolves it attempts to lift the fruit slightly but nally of the machine. Each pocket is therefore bounded on the bottom by corresponding areas the fruit immediately rollsback into the aforesaid depression. This phenomenon results in the fruit continually rolling or spinning between two brushes and between the two side brushes. Coupled with this motion the left hand spiral groove in one brush tendsot move the fruit to one side of the runway while the right hand spiral in the adjacent brush tends to move the fruit to the other side. A universal spinning motion on the part of the fruit results and this motion subjects all surfaces of the fruit to the brushes; both the stem end and the blossom end of the fruit coming periodically in contact with brushing surfaces. Now a pusher pad comes behind the single fruit and forces it againstla forward brush and increasing the friction or traction between the fruit and brush. At the same time the action of the groove of such brush will force the fruit against one of the side brushes from which it may immediately rebound and by various forces be thrown to the other side of the runway against the other side brush. The pusher pad in progressing rolls the fruit up over the next forward brush and into the next succeeding depression between brushes. The action is rapid and quite diflicult offull description but a glance at the machine in operation will show an applwheld between two pusher pads and being transferred over the brushes successively while rolling and spinning and bounding from side to side of the runway. The brushing action-provided is very thorough and continuous although gentle and harmless- The machine should be fed with fruit one in each runway as fast as each pusher pad comes into action. In the drawing the first few depressions are shown filled with fruit and as more fruit is fed in the machine becomes full;

\ and the next to last brush, it is removed manually, or by the pusher pads immediately before another fruit is delivered to the same position,

It will be understood that although I have illus-- trated my invention as applied to a brushing apparatus, other types of supporting elements may be used in lieu of the brushes shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will also be seen that various other changes and variations may be made within the spirit of my invention and I deem myself entitled to all such changes and variations as fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: x

' 1. In a machine of the class described a plurality of parallel closely spaced brushes providing a horizontal article brushing surface extending transverse to the axis of the brushes, means for revolving said brushes co-ordinately all in the same direction; saidbrushes providing grooves, one between each pair of adjacent brushes; said brushes of such proportion that each groove will hold an individual article so that the brushes are incapable normally of moving the article from such groove, resilient means at each side of such surface to retain an article thereon, a plurality of pusher pads spaced apart approximately the spacing of said brushes, and means for moving said pusher pads in such spaced arrangement above said surface in the direction of travel of the upper surfaces of said brushes; two adjacent pads ing means and with corresponding portions of the article carrying surface toprovide an individual traveling pocket; the axis ofieachbrush being fixed.

2. An apparatus of the class described com-' prising a series of substantially cylindrical rotatable supporting members arranged in adjacent parallel relation so as to form article holding grooves therebetweemmeans for'rotating all of said members in a common directioma plurality of retain ing walls provided with brushing surfaces above said supporting membersand extending transversely thereto to form a plurality of adjacent runways, a plurality of resilient pusher aprons disposed above said members in each. runway so as to engage with articles in said grooves, said aprons being spaced apart approximately the spacing of the supporting members and cooperating therewith'and with theretaining walls to form individual article holding pockets, and means for moving the pusher aprons transversely of thesupporting members whereby said pockets I urge articles therein from groove to groove.

3. In an apparatus-of the character described, a brushing runway comprising a plurality of substantially cylindrical supporting brushes mounted on fixed axes in adjacent parallel relation to form article holding grooves therebetween, the diameter and spacing of the brushes being such that globular articles deposited in the grooves will not be advanced from groove to groove by the rotative efl'ect of the brushes alone, means for rotating all of said brushes in a common direction, apair of retaining walls defining the lateral limits of the runway, a carrier disposed above the runway in such manner as not to contact with globular articles passing from groove to groove over the brushes, a plurality of pusher aprons depending from the carrier to contact with globular articles resting in the grooves between the brushes, said aprons being spaced apart approximatelyv the spacing of the brushes and cooperating with said :retaining walls to form successive traveling pockets, and means for operating the carrier to move the aprons transversely of the brushes in the direction of travel of their upper surfaces and slower than their peripheral speeds.

4. In an apparatus for treating articles of a rollable nature such asfresh-fruit and the like, a

conveyor comprising a'series of substantially cylindrical suppo ting members arranged in ad- 'jacent parallel relation transversely of the path of articles passing thereover and forming'article holding grooves therebetween, means for'rotating said supporting members in a commondirection aboutfixed axes, the axial spacing of said sup-- porting members being greater than the diameter of rollable articles being conveyed and the proportions of said supporting members relative to'the size of conveyed articles being such that the supporting members are normally incapable of moving said articles from groove to' groove thereacross, means extending longitudinally of-the conveyorv for retaining conveyed articles thereon, a

plurality of pusher means arranged above the conveyor and spaced apart the axial spacing of said supporting members, said pusher means co-' operating with said retaining means to form successive pockets for advancing rows .of articles in uniformly separated relation, and means for imparting movement to said pusher means longitudinaliy of the conveyor and in timed relation with each other to cause themto engage and advance rollable articles in uniformly separated rows from grooveto groove across the supporting members in the direction of travel of their upper sur- L faces. Q

5. Inan' apparatus for treating articles of a rollable nature such as fresh fruit and the like, a conveyor comprising a series of substantially cylindrical supporting members arranged in adjacent parallel relation transversely of the path of articles passing thereover and forming article holding grooves therebetween, means for rotating said supporting members in a common direction pusher means being sufilciently rigid to prevent them from dragging over articles beneath them and cooperating with said retaining means to form successive pockets for advancing rows of articles in uniformly separated'relation, and

means for imparting movement to said pusher means longitudinally of the conveyor and in timed relation with each otherto cause them to engage and advance rollable articles in uniformly sepa- A rated rows from groove to groove across the supporting members in the direction of travel of their upper surfaces.

6. In an apparatus for treating articles of a rollable nature such as fresh fruit and the like, a-conveyor comprising a series of substantially cylindricalsuppprtingmembers arranged in adjacent parallel "relation transversely'of the path of articles passing thereover and forming article holding grooves therebetween, means for rotating said supporting members in a common direction about fixed axes, the axial spacing of said supporting members being greater than the diameter of rollable articles being conveyed and the proportions of said supporting members relative'to the size of conveyed articles being such that .the supporting members are normally incapable of moving said articles from groove togroove thereacross, means extending longitudinally of the conveyor for retaining conveyed articlesthereon, a carrier disposed above the con- "veyer in such a manner as to clear articles passing from groove to groove thereover, a plurality of pusher members depending from the carrier to contact with rollable articles restingin the grooves, said pusher members being spaced apart the axial spacingof the supporting-members and cooperating with the retaining means to form successive article advancing pockets, and means for operating the carrier to move the. pusher members in unisontransversely of the supporting members in the direction] of travel of their upper surfaces porting members being greater thanthe diameter members; said pusher members cooperating with said retainingwalls to form successive individual article advancing pockets, and means for imparting movement to said pusher members longitudinally of the conveyor and in timed relation to each other to cause them to engage and advance rollable articles in the 'poc kets from groove to groove across the supporting members in the direction of travel of their upper surfaces.

8. In an apparatus for treating articles of a rollable nature such as fresh fruit and the like, a conveyor comprising a series of substantially cylindrical supporting members in adjacent parallel relation transversely of the path of articles passing thereover and forming article holding grooves therebetween, means for rotating said supporting members in a common direction about fixed axes, means extending longitudinally of the conveyor for retaining conveyed articles thereon, a plurality of fixedly mounted pendent pads arranged, above the conveyor and cooperating with the retaining means and the cylindrical supporting members to form fruit retaining pockets for maintaining rows of fruit in uniformly separated relation, means for imparting movement to said pendent pads longitudinally of the conveyor and in timed relation with each other to control the advance of rollable articles from groove to groove across the supporting members in the direction of travel of their upper surfaces.

I y I f v LLOYD E. JONES. 

